THREE days to the governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, some aspirants have expressed displeasure over the process adopted by the leadership of the party.
The primary is scheduled to be held on Saturday.
Seven of the aspirants, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Chief Olusola Oke, SAN, Wale Akinterinwa, Prince Diran Iyantan, Prof Dayo Faduyile, Mr Gbenga Edema and Mr Jimi Odimayo, jointly wrote a letter to the National Chairman of the party, Dr Umar Ganduje, and called his attention to some of the discrepancies noticed in the process.
In the letter made available to our correspondent on Wednesday, the aggrieved aspirants alleged that their supporters could not have their membership cards revalidated before the committee which came from the national secretariat in Abuja.
They also said there was a need for the party to use the revalidation of the membership register for the primary.
The letter read, “We have noticed some issues of concern in respect of the said primary election which, if not resolved quickly, may hinder the smooth running of the primary and may be detrimental to a free, fair, credible and acceptable election.
“One of the issues is that of the revalidation of the membership register to be used for the primary election.
“While we commend the position of the party to revalidate the existing membership register, which is the certified true copies as certified by INEC, and based on this directive of the party, as aspirants, we have paid over N300m to the coffers of the party to cover the annual dues of all party members whose names appear on the register.
“Unfortunately, the exercise was shrouded in so much secrecy that a lot of our party members, especially our numerous supporters, could not have their membership cards revalidated before the committee that came from the headquarters left Ondo State for Abuja.”
The aspirants alleged a report that fake slips were in circulation to be used by people who were not members of the party during the exercise.
“This massive and pervasive production of membership cards will certainly precipitate a situation where everyone holding membership cards, notwithstanding that their names are not on the register, will be allowed to vote without accreditation. Voting without accreditation remains illegal and unacceptable,” they noted.
The group advised the party to make accreditation of party members mandatory at the election venue, so that every member of the party whose name appears on the membership register, which is already certified by the INEC, would be allowed to vote once can present the membership slip for accreditation.
They stated, “It is our prayer, therefore, that the leadership of the party make available to us the membership register already validly certified by the Independent National Electoral Commission. This is the only lawful register to be used by the party for the conduct of the primary election slated for 20/04/2024. No other register can lawfully be used for the primary.”
Other aspirants who would be contesting for the party’s ticket are Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Mr Mayowa Akinfolarin, Mr Isaacs Kekemeke, Brig-Gen. Olamide Ohunyeye (retd), Ife Oyedele, Mr Soji Ehinlawo, Mrs Funmilayo Waheed-Adekojo, Mr Morayo Lebi, and Mrs Funke Omogoroye.
